The DSST is an extensive series of examinations developed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program of the United States Department of Defense. DSST exams allow candidates to earn college credit and are traditionally offered to military personnel but are now open to civilians as well.
These tests are often used in tandem with CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exams by students seeking college degrees in non-traditional formats. While CLEP tests are almost primarily used for lower-level credit at regionally accredited institutions, DSST tests are applicable for both upper and lower-level credit.
DSST tests are perceived to be a preliminary learning assessment in which you can test your knowledge of a particular subject without actually taking the actual college-level course. This alternative method can save you both money and time, significantly reducing the timeline and the expense of obtaining a college degree. There are currently more than 30 DSST tests, all of which are listed below.
| DSST Exam List | |
| Subject Areas | Courses |
| Business |
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| Humanities |
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| Math |
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| Physical Science |
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| Social Sciences |
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| Technology |
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If you are a military, you may take a limited test list at a Prometric testing center that includes:
Students preparing for standardized admissions tests should also practice with our CLEP practice test 2026, covering the quantitative, verbal, and analytical sections tested in the real exam.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Business Ethics and Society) | 100 questions[1] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Time limit (Business Ethics and Society) | 2 hours[1] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Passing score | Minimum score 400[2] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $100 per exam (plus any test-site admin fee)[3] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Retake fee | Retests are paid by the test taker (DANTES funds the first attempt only for eligible military)[4] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 30-day wait before retesting[5] | prometric.com · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Validity (Principles of Public Speaking) | Both parts must be completed within 6 months[6] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Delivery | Online via ProProctor, Prometric test centers, or National Test Centers[5] | prometric.com · Oct 20, 2026 |
| Testing window | Year-round[7] | DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program · Oct 20, 2026 |
According to DSST (Prometric) — DANTES Subject Standardized Tests credit-by-exam program, “The exam contains 100 questions to be answered in 2 hours.”[1]
Prepare for the DSST - DANTES Subject Standardized Tests exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What does the mean of a data set represent in DSST quantitative analysis?
Answer: C. The arithmetic average of all values
Explanation:
The mean is the arithmetic average: add every value, then divide by how many values there are. That is why the third option is correct. The most frequent value is the mode, so that option describes a different measure. The middle value when the data are sorted is the median. The range of values is the gap between the largest and smallest, which says how spread out the data are and nothing about the center. The general rule: match each word to its measure. Mean is average, median is middle, mode is most common, range is spread. When a question names a measure, ask which of these jobs it does before you look at the choices.
Question: In DSST practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in business?
Answer: B. Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
Explanation:
Data-driven methods with measurable outcomes are correct because you can check whether a change actually improved anything. Making changes without measuring results leaves you unable to tell whether the change helped, harmed or did nothing. Waiting for problems to occur is reactive, so you only act after the cost has landed. Copying other organizations without analysis ignores that your processes, customers and constraints may differ, so a fix that worked elsewhere may not work for you. The general rule: in business questions about improvement, prefer the answer that measures, compares against a baseline and adjusts based on evidence, over answers built on guesswork, delay or imitation.
Question: In DSST practice, what is the primary purpose of strategic planning?
Answer: B. To align resources with goals and anticipate challenges
Explanation:
Strategic planning exists to align resources with goals and to anticipate challenges, so the second option is correct. Creating paperwork is at most a by-product; a plan that only produces documents has missed the point. Satisfying external auditors may be a side benefit, but it is not the purpose of the process. Reducing the workforce is one possible decision a plan might lead to, not its purpose, and many plans involve growth or reallocation instead. The general rule: when asked for the primary purpose of a management process, choose the answer about direction and coordination toward goals, not an answer about a single tactic or an administrative output.
Start with the official page for your exact title. Note the format, the score your college requires and whether your title has any special rules, such as the two-part structure of Principles of Public Speaking. Use that to decide which of our subject sets matches your exam, for example DSST Business, DSST Statistics or DSST Management.
Take a first set cold, without notes, to see where you stand. Do not worry about the score. Instead, write down every question you missed or guessed and the reason: a forgotten term, a misread stem, or a topic you have not studied.
Then study those gaps with the official outline and the textbook or course material your school recommends. Return to the same set later and compare. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to find weak spots, not to predict what you will see.
Near test day, practise under the real conditions for your title: sit through a full set in one block, keep to the time limit, and read each answer choice before choosing. Allow time to set up ProProctor or travel to a test center. If you need a retest, use the wait period to study the topics you missed.
DSST tests are scored using one of two methods of scoring: Norm-Referenced or Criterion-Referenced Standard Setting. The use of scoring methodology depends on the title of the exam and the date that the exam was taken. One method isn't better than that of the other — they're just different ways to get to the same place.
Traditionally, the DSST exams were scored using the "norm-referenced" method to determine the pass/fail mark for each test. Using this approach, the cut-off score is calculated on the basis of the assessments of the groups of test participants; it sets out the proportions of each group that should pass or fail. The results of the DSST norm-referenced score vary between 20 and 80, with passing score settings ranging between 44 and 49 (C-grade), depending on the exam title.
The scoring method used for all updated and new DSST tests is called "criterion-referenced." This approach sets scores based on decisions on individual test items or the test as a whole. This helps determine how many of the test items have to be answered correctly in order to pass the test. Criterion-referenced DSST scores are based on the test-takers' knowledge, not how they performed against each other in the same pool. Criterion-referenced scores vary from 200 to 500, with a passing score set at 400 for all tests.
| DANTES DSST tests | Scoring Range | C-Grade Equivalent (passing) Score | B-Grade Equivalent Score |
| Criterion-referenced | 200-500 | 400 | 434 |
| Norm-Referenced | 20-80 | 44-49 (score range) | 48-54 (score range) |
| Subjects | DSST Exam Pass Rates |
| Principles of Supervision | 87% |
| Introduction to Business | 81% |
| Technical Writing | 81% |
| Computing and Information Technology | 78% |
| Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 76% |
| Health and Development | 75% |
| Personal Finance | 75% |
| Criminal Justice | 72% |
| Management Information Systems | 66% |
| Principles of Public Speaking | 65% |
| Foundations of Education | 64% |
| Introduction to Law Enforcement | 63% |
| General Anthropology | 63% |
| Introduction to World Religions | 61% |
| A History of the Vietnam War | 61% |
| Substance Abuse | 60% |
| Human Resource Management | 58% |
| Business Mathematics | 55% |
| Money and Banking | 54% |
| Ethics in America, Health & Human Development | 54% |
| Business Ethics and Society | 54% |
| History of the Soviet Union | 52% |
| Astronomy | 52% |
| Environmental Science | 51% |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 48% |
| The Civil War and Reconstruction | 44% |
| Principles of Advanced English Composition | 43% |
| Organizational Behavior | 39% |
| Introduction to Geography (formerly Human/Cultural Geography) | 37% |
| Principles of Physical Science I | 35% |
| Principles of Statistics | 27% |
| Principles of Finance | 25% |
| Fundamentals of Counseling | 24% |
| Art of the Western World | 19% |
| Fundamentals of College Algebra | 10% |
| Math for Liberal Arts | 5% |
Score reports will be sent to the school/institution that you selected on the exam day. The school/institution should receive your score report within 90 days after the date of the exam. Delayed scores may be the consequence of incorrect institution code. If your score report has been delayed, call or email your school directly.
When to notify the DSST Test Team:
You can contact the DSST Exam Team via email at getcollegecredit@prometric.com or through phone at 1.877.471.9860.
When to order a transcript:
How to use the parchment online ordering service:
Note: Transcripts may not be available for order until 3-5 business days after the date of the test. For more information about the DSST standardized test, you may visit the DSST official website at www.getcollegecredit.com.
This easy DANTES study guides will assist you in DSST test prep.
DSST stands for DANTES Subject Standardized Tests.
By going to https://tcnet.prometric.com/dsst and clicking on first-time registration, you may create your username and password. On the day of your test, please bring your username and password with you.
Taking DSST exams costs $85. You’ll also have to pay an administrative fee to your testing center, which varies by location but is often between $20 and $30.
Yes. While DSST examinations were once only available to military members seeking a degree, they are now available to anyone seeking college credit.
Registration for DSST proctoring is accessible online at www.education.edu/testing. You will notice a button labelled SCHEDULE AN EXAM towards the top of the page, which you should click. A list of exam registration processes will appear. Select the appropriate option for Choose a group depending on the DSST test you intend to take. Choose which test you wish to take in the Choose an exam section. You must select an exam day and time as well as finish the registration procedure.
The DSST Substance Abuse Exam is extremely difficult, and significant study is required to pass. The 14 topics covered by the DSST Substance Abuse test are linked to the social, physical, and psychological impacts of various types of substance abuse.
DSST exams are open to anyone.
DSST tests are usually graded on a scale, with passing (or a C-grade equivalent) and failing (or a B-grade equivalent) marks. The B-grade equivalent was created to assist individuals applying to schools and institutions that grant credit based on DSST scores higher than a C.
To start, you must decide which test you want to take. Take practice tests to familiarize yourself with exam subject; they assist test takers learn the structure and formatting of a test. Make a study schedule that satisfy you. Before the test, make sure you get enough of rest and eat properly.
The majority of DSST examinations are passed with a score of 400 or better. The minimum and maximum numbers are 200 and 600, respectively. A grade of “C” on an exam would be equivalent to a score of 400.
Exams can be taken in a Prometric Testing Center or through a Remote Proctor.
Try these questions from our free DSST - DANTES Subject Standardized Tests practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
What is the value of continuing education in humanities for DSST professionals?
Answer: B. It keeps professionals current with evolving standards and practices
Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with the latest developments, standards, and best practices in their field.
In DSST practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in introduction to computing?
Answer: B. Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
Data-driven quality improvement with measurable outcomes ensures that changes actually produce the intended improvements and can be verified.
What is the primary unit of structure and function in living organisms studied in DSST?
Answer: B. Cell
The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function in all living organisms, forming the basis of biological organization.
In DSST science preparation, what does homeostasis refer to?
Answer: B. The tendency to maintain stable internal conditions
Homeostasis is the process by which organisms maintain stable internal conditions necessary for survival despite external changes.
Take the full DSST - DANTES Subject Standardized Tests practice test
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